Apparatus for corrugating cylinders



Marh 29, 1938. A. G. WERY Er AL 2,112,509

APPARATUS FOR CORRUGATING CYLINDERS Filed Deo. 12, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Afef/e7- en u/s/ax isz/E AAFP/aziz.

APPARATUS FOR CORRUGATING CYLINDERS Filed Dec. 12, 1935 f s sheets-sheet z hllmlnkkllhhhhlaj INVENTORS AME/e7 6. WEE-K l l', I y

A f ORNEY,

Patented Mar. 29, 193g APPARATUS FOR CORRUGATING OYLINDERS Albert G. Wcry, Endicott, and Leslie A. Pep'pler, New Brighton, Staten Island, N. Y.

Application December 12, 1935, Serial No. 54,104

15 Claims.

Our invention relates io an apparatus for corrugating cylinders and has for its primary object the provision of means for providing smooth, even regular circumferential corrugations in the 5 thin walls of pipes or other metal cylinders such as are used for conduit, foundation pile casing, and other work. p

One important object of our invention lies in the provision of a means whereby the cylinder l mandrel provided with corrugations of the desired size and character, and a tracing or embossing tool adapted to engage the outside of the cylinder and press the wall thereof into such mandrel corrugations whereby the same are impressed upon the cylinder, the embossing tool traveling along the length of the cylinder and mandrel to form spaced circumferential corrugations in the wall of the cylinder.

Another object of our invention lies in the provision of means for reversing the'direction of travel of the embossing tool so that the embossing can be done in both directions longitudinally of the cylinder.

n Still another object of our invention is to provide a means for automatically stopping the embcssingoperation upon reaching a predetermined position with respect to the end of the cylinder.

Another object lies in the provision of means whereby the embossing tool can be quickly raised or lifted out of engagement with the cylinder and mandrel.

A further object lies in the provision of means engaging the inner wall of the cylinder during operation to prevent its lateral displacement.

Still another and important object lies in the provision of `a means and method whereby one end of the cylinder is left uncorrugated to receive the end of a wholly uncorrugated cylinder or closed end boot and the corrugating process then continued over such ,overlapped ends Whereby the same are corrugated together and the cor rugations continued along the second named cylinder, thus providing a continuous corrugation fhrough two or more sections of cylinders or through a cylinder section and the open end of a boot, and automatically providing means bysuch corrugations whereby said sections are secured together.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference now being had to the gures of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings:

can be loosely mounted and supported upon a' Figure 1 is a side view of our apparatus.-

Figure 2 is a partly sectional end view thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail rear View of the embossing tool and carriage and showing the lifting means therefor.

Figure 4 is a sectional'end View of the apparatus taken on the line 4 4 of Figurel l.

Figure 5 is a detail View illustrating the interior of the cylinder and-its relation to the cylinder supporting means. v

-Figure 6 is a detail sectional end view of the parts shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail view partly in section of a plurality of sections of cylinders and end boot l5 corrugated and secured together in accordance with this invention.

Figure 8 is a detail View of the side of the embossing tool.

Figure 9 is a detail end view of such tool.

i The reference character I 4refers to a supporting base upon which are suitably rigidly securedrthe upstanding brackets 2 and 3 and also upon which is suitably secured the I beam supporting member 4. Another .supporting bracket 5 is also suitably secured upon the base I.

Suitably journaled in bea-rings 6 and 'I in the brackets 2 and 3 respectively, and in the bearing 8 on the bracket 5,'is a mandrel shaft 9 provided with an extending circumferentially corrugated mandrel portion I0, the teeth of which are rounded and disposed in spaced parallel relation, on the mandrel.

The opposite end of the mandrel 'shaft 9 is reduced and is journaled at its extreme end in the bearing 8. Freely rotatable upon the mandrel shaft 9 is a pair of spaced, oppositely disposed bevel gears II and I 2 meshing with a bevel gear I3 disposed at right angles thereto,'and secured upon 7 shaft |3a. Each of the gears II and I2 are p-ro- 40 vided with clutch faces I 4 and splined upon the shaft 9 between the gears I I and I2 are clutch membersA I 5 adapted to selectively engage and drive either gear Il or gear l2. or to occupy the neutral position shown in Figure 1. 'Ihe clutch lever I6 is pivoted as at I1 on one end of the i bracket 3 and this lever has suitable means, not shown, for engaging within a groove I 9 in the clutch member whereby upon rocking the lever I6 in one direction or another said clutch will -be slid along the shaft to engage either of the clutches I4 on the gears Il and I2.

It will be clear that if the clutchvmember I5 engages the corresponding clutch member-on the gear II, the shaft 9 will be rotated in one direction. If the opposite clutch member I8 engages the corresponding clutch member on the gear l2, the shaft 9 will be rotated in the opposite direction. Also obviously, if the clutch lever I8 is in the neutral position shown inA Figure 1, the gears Il and l2 will rotate vfreely on the shaft 9 and consequently the said shaftv with mandrel i0 will be at rest. Any suitable means, not shown, such as an electric motor, may be provided to drive the shaft 13a. v

'I'he upper end of. the clutch lever I8 is pivotally connected to one end of a rod 28 slidably mounted in journals 2| formed on the tops of brackets 2 and 3 and on the top of a bracket 22 provided at the opposite end of the machine. Handles 23 are provided on the rod 20 at spaced points whereby an operator may conveniently reach and take hold of one of said handles and slide the rod longitudinauy in either direction to aetuate the clutch lever.

Adjustable collars 24 are also provided on the rod 28 and adapted to be set in selected positions and secured in such positions by the thumb screws 28. These collars serve vas automatic clutch actuating means in a manner which will be described.

Also journaled in the brackets 2 and 34 at a point spaced from and parallel to the mandrel shaft 9 and in substantially the same plane there-y with, is a shaft 28 carrying a pinion 21. This pinion meshes with a similar pinion 28 upon the mandrel shaft 9 (see Figure 4) and also meshes with a gear 29 upon a shaft 33 likewise journaled in the brackets 2 and 3. The opposite end of this splined shaft 38 projects beyond the bracket 2 andis disposed parallel with the mandrel I0, the extreme end being supported in the bracket 22. The gear 29 meshes with a pinion 3| on a shaft 32 also journaled in the brackets 2 and 3 and projecting beyond the bracket 2 and having its opposite end journaled in the bracket 22, the extreme end of such shaft being squared as at 33 to receive a wrench or other tool whereby the same may be rotated by hand. This shaft 32 is screw-threaded as at 34 for a purpose to be described.

Fixedly mounted at the upper ends of the brackets 2, 3 and 22, and extending longitudinally and parallel with the screw shaft 32, the shaft 30, and the mandrel I8, is a supporting cylinder 35 upon which is slidably mounted carriage 38 provided on its upper side with an apertured lug 31 through which passes the clutch rod 28. The car- 'riage 38 is -provided with downwardly extending supporting arms 38, the lower ends of which carz a bearing member 39 slidable upon the shaft Journaled upon the shaft 38 to pivot about the same in spaced relation on opposite sides of the carriage member 39, is a pair of bell crank arms, the upper legs 48 of which converge into a single threaded journal 4I through which is threadably mounted an adjusting screw 42 provided with a hand wheel 43 onv its outer end. The opposite legs 44 of the bell crank levers (see Figure 2) extend angularly toward the rear of the machine `above the mandrel I0 and support a fixed shaft 48 upon which is rotatably mounted the embossingtool 48. T'he extreme rear ends of the legs 44 are connected by a bar 41 (see Figure 3).

Also rotatably mounted upon the shaft 45 and secured, one at each end, to the embossing tool 48 are the gears 45a adapted to mesh with similar gears 48h splined upon the shaft 38 to rotate therewith and capable of sliding therealong.

These gears 45h are disposed between the pivot points of the bell crank arms 48--48 and 44-44.

Carried upon'the rear side of the carriage 38 (see Figure 2) is a cylinder housing 48 within which is disposed a plunger or piston 49. A source of air pressure 50 communicates with the interior of the housing below the piston whereby upon operation of a suitable valve by the operator to admit compressed air into such housing, the piston is forced upwardly. Connected to the piston 49 and projecting downwardly out of the housing 48 is a rod 8| having pivotal connection as at 82 with a link 83, the lower end of which is pivoted as at 84 to the tie rod 41.

Adjusting screws 85 project downwardly from a flange 58 on the upper side of the housing 48 and the lower end of such adjusting screws engage within recesses 51 in the tie bar 41. Coil springs 88 encircle the adjustingI screws 88 whereby normally the bell crank arms 44 and the embossing tool 48 arelforced downwardlyinto mandrel engaging position. Obviously however, if the operator admits air pressure into the housing 48 as described, the upward movement of the piston 49 will instantly lift the embossing tool above the mandrel. The embossing tool may also be raised above the mandrel, and its pressure against the mandrel adjusted by means of the adjusting screw 42 and hand wheel 43, the inner end of the screw 42 bearing against a lug 89 formed on the carriage 38. f

'I'he downwardly depending supportingarms 38 on the carriage 38 are provided with a threaded boss 68 through which passes the lead screw or threaded shaft 34, the threads thereof engaging .the threads in said boss whereby rotation of the shaft serves to slide the carriage 38 and the embossing tool longitudinally of the mandrel J3.

'I'he boss 31 on the carriage 38 serves to engage with one of the collars 24, depending upon the direction of travel, when a predetermined lengthI of travel has been reached and move the clutch rod 28 longitudinally to actuate the clutch lever.l A section oi' piper or cylinder shell is adapted to be loosely mounted upon the mandrel I8 as shown clearly in Figure 1, in position for the embossing tool 48 to engage thereagainst and for the spiral thread thereof to press the wall of the shell or cylinder into the corresponding corrugations of the mandrel I8 whereby to corrugate such wall. In a. normal operation and with the mandrel and embossing tool rotating, the shell will be rolled around the mandrel and a circumferential corru- -a pair of bearing rollers 83 provided'with teeth corresponding to the mandrel teeth and ythus forming a roller bearing for the projecting end of the mandrel.

Also mounted upon the `supporting beam 4 at a suitable point along the length thereof, is a sup-l porting' plate 84 upon which are disposed supporting brackets 85 `(see Figure 6) carrying rollers68 adapted to engage against the inner wall of the pipe or cylinder section 61 during the embossing operation and prevent the pipe from being forced to one side or the other of the mandrel by the action of the embossing tool.

- In the embossing of the pipe the end` thereof may be left uncorrugated for a short distance as shown in'Figure 1, so as to receive an adjacent uncorrugated cylinder` and the overlapping or as shown in Figure 7 whereby to secure such ends together and to provide a uniform corrugatlon throughout the length of one or a plurality of sections. These pipe sections are generally formed slightly tapered which facilitates this telescoping of adjacent ends.

In operation the carriage with the embossing tool .is rst adjusted longitudinallyon the supporting members 30 and 35 to the desired position with respect to the mandrel for beginning the corrugating operation, this adjustment being made either by hand, by turning the lead screw 34 by means of a suitable toolY engaging the squared end 33 thereof, or byi power drive 'from drive shaft |3a, through either bevel gear Il or I2, shaft 9, pinion 28, pinion 21, gearJS and pinion 3|. The rotation of the lead screw results in longitudinal sliding movement of the carriage 36 and bearing 39 along the supporting members 35 and 30, with consequent sliding and rotative movement of the embossing tool carried thereby. Obviously the corrugating operation may be begun at either end of the mandrel, the latter being rotatable in either direction, as above explained. With the parts thusv set, the embossing tool is raised above the mandrel, either by operating the hand Wheel and screw 42 or by.permitting air to enter the cylinder below the piston 49, resulting in rocking the bell crank arms 44 upwardly about their pivot 3U and carrying with them the shaft 45 and embossing tool 46.

An uncorrugated shell is now placed upon the mandrel I0 and slid inwardly on the same until the end of the shell vengages to stop 6I.

' The embossing tool is now lowered into engagement with the shell and suiiicient pressure is exerted by the coil springs 58, to cause the` spiral of the embossing tool to press the wall of the shell or pipe into the corrugations of the mandrel. It may be explained here that the thread of the embossing tool is spirally disposed, so that as the corrugating proceeds, the embossing tool adopts a screw action in following the non-spiral grooves of the mandrel.

The collars 24 are now adjusted on the clutch rod 20 so as to be engaged by the boss 31 on the carriage 36 when such carriage has reached a predetermined position with respect to the end of the shell 61, preferably when the embossing tool has come within a short distance of the end of the shell.

With the drive shaft I3a rotating, the clutch rod is now actuated to cause rotation of the mandrel shaft 9, shaft 30 and lead screw 32, in the desired direction. The shell 61 rolls around the mandrel lllbetween the said mandrel and the embossing tool and is corrugated in the manner shown, the embossing tool and carriage being simultaneously moved along by the lead screw 34. 'Ihe shell is prevented from swinging outwardly or becoming displaced by means of the roller supports 66 engaging the inner wall thereof. The embossing tool and the mandrel rotate in opposite directions.

When the corrugating operation has reached the desired point adjacent the end of the shell section, the clutch I5 is moved into neutral position either 'manually by means of the handles 23 or automatically by the boss 31 engaging one of the collars 24, thus stopping the further rotation of the mandrel and embossing tool. Of course, in

. some instances, as desired, the corrugating of a The vembossing tool and carriage is now raised above the mandrel in the manner previously described and the shell removed from the mandrel, this removal being wholly unhindered and unimpaired by any part of the machine and requiring no other disconnection of parts. The section is simply lifted and pulled freely from the mandrel. Now, if desired, a new and uncorrugatedsection, or an end boot such as shown at 68 in Figure 7, may be engaged together at their ends by telescoping the said ends for a short distance, the normal taper usually provided on the shells `mak/- ing this a convenient and easy operation.

Assuming that the embossing or corrugating operation has proceeded from left to right in Figure 1, in the operation just described, the new shell is now placed upon the mandrel first, with its inner end engaging'against the stop 6I and with its opposite joined end and the section just corrugated supported upon the mandrel. The embossing tool and its associated carriage are now lowered into engagement with the previously corrugated section adjacent the terminationiof the corrugations thereof and the'clutch' moved to drive the parts in the same-direction as before. The corrugating proceeds as before through the overlapping ends of the two sectionsA and continues until the end of the previously uncorruf gated section or a predetermined point short of the end thereof has been reached. .Thereupon the embossing tool and carriage are again raised, either manually or automatically bythe other collar 24, causing theparts `to stop. Obviously this can continue until as many sectionsof shell as desired are' corrugated and secured together to the end or ends of the endmost sections.

By this means we have provided a relatively simple and inexpensive apparatus for corrugating cylinders or pipe shells of any diameter and for securing the ends of the same together.

Of course, changes maybe made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spiritandscope of our invencylinder at right anglesto the axis .of said cylinder.

2. An apparatus for corrugating cylinders comprising a mandrel, means for supporting said mandrel horizontally and from one end only whereby the corrugating portion thereof is free to receive a cylinder section thereover without obstruction, an embossing tool .supported in operative relation to said mandrel, said embossing tool comprising a shaft having xed corrugating teeth thereon, means for rotating said tool and said mandrel, and means for causing said tool to travel longitudinally along said mandrel and a cylinder section thereon to emboss parallel corrugations in the cylinder at right angles to the axis of said cylinder.

3.l An apparatus for corrugating cylinders comprising a mandrel, means for supporting said mandrel horizontally and from one end only 75 whereby the corrugating portion thereof is free to receive a cylinder section thereover without obstruction, an embossing tool supported in oper |5 tion to said mandrel, means for rotating said tool and said mandrel, means for causing said tool to' travel longitudinally along said mandrel and a cylinder section thereon to emboss parallel corrugations in the cylinder at right angles to the axis oi' said cylinder, and means actuated by the travel of said tool for stopping the rotation of said tool and mandrel at a predetermined position of said tool.

5. An apparatus for corrugating cylinders comprising a mandrel, means for supporting said mandrel horizontally and from one end only whereby the corrugating portion thereof is free to receive a cylinder section thereover without obstruction, an embossing tool supported in operative relationto said mandrel, said embossing tool comprising a shaft having fixed corrugating teeth thereon, means for rotating said tool and said mandrel, and means for vcausing said tool to. travel longitudinally along saidv mandrel and a cylinder section thereon to emboss parallel corrugations in the cylinder at right angles to the axis of. said cylinder, selectively in either'direction. 4

6. An apparatus for corrugating cylinders comprising a mandrel adapted to support a cylinder thereon, an embossing tool having fixed corrugating teeth thereon swingably mounted to selectively engage the wall of a cylinder on said mandrel, means for rotating said tool and mandrel and`for simultaneously moving said tool longitudinally oi' said mandrel and `cylinder to emboss parallel corrugations in the cylinder at right angles to the axis of said cylinder, and

means for swinging and maintaining said tool away from said mandrel and cylinder.

7. A n apparatus for corrugating cylinders comprising a mandrel adapted to support a cylinder thereon, an embossing tool swingably mounted to ,selectively engage the wall of a cylinder thereon, 57,/ means for rotating said'tool and mandrel, and for simultaneously moving said tool longitudinally of said mandrel and cylinder, and means for swinging said tool away from said mandrel and cylinder, 'said last named means comprising a. iiuid cg actuated device operatively connected with said tool. v

8. An apparatus for corrugating cylinders comp rising a mandrel adapted to support a cylinder thereon, an embossing tool swingably mounted to selectively engage the wall of a cylinder thereon, means for rotating said tool and mandrel and for simultaneously moving said tool longitudinally of saidy mandrel and cylinder, means for swinging said tool away from said mandrel and cylinder, said last named means comprising a fluid actuated device operatively connected with said tool, and independent manually operated means for adjusting said,tool toward and away from saidmandrel and cylinder. i

75 9. An apparatus i'or corrugating cylinders comprising a mandrel adapted to support a cylinder thereon, a carriage swingably mounted and carrying an embossing tool adapted to be selectively moved with said carriage into and out of mandrel engaging position. means for rotating said tool and mandrel and for simultaneously moving said tool and carriage longitudinally of said mandrel, and fluid actuated means for quickly swinging said carriage and tool away from said mandrel.

10. An apparatus for corrugating cylinders comprising a supporting member, an elongated mandrel supported atone end thereon and projecting outwardly therefrom, a secondary supporting member supported at one end on said iirst member and projecting therefrom below and parallel to said projecting mandrel, means on said secondary support for engaging and rotatably supporting the free end of said mandrel, and an embossing tool operatively disposed with respect to said mandrel.

11. An apparatus for corrugating cylinders comprising a supporting member, an elongated mandrel supported at one end thereon and projecting outwardly therefrom, a secondary supporting member supported at one end on said first member andl projecting therefrom below and parallel to said projecting mandrel, means on said secondary support for engaging and rotatably supporting the free end of said mandrel, and an embossing tool operatively disposed with respect to said mandrel, said projecting mandrel and secondary support being spaced above the first support whereby a cylinder can be freely inserted around said mandrel and secondary support without obstruction.

12. An apparatus for corrugating cylinders comprising a supporting member, an elongated mandrel supported at one end thereon and projecting outwardly therefrom, a secondary supporting member supported at one end on said first member and projecting therefrom below and parallel to said projecting mandrel', means on said secondary support for engaging and" rotatably supporting the free end of said mandrel, an embossing tool operatively disposed with respect to said mandrel, said projecting mandrel and secondary support being spaced above the iirst support whereby a 'cylinder can be freely inserted around said mandrel and secondary support without obstruction, and means on said secondary support for engaging and supporting the inner wall of a cylinder thereon to prevent swinging thereof laterally of said mandrel.

13. An apparatus forcorrugating cylinders comprisng'a mandrel adapted to receive a cylinder thereover, said mandrel having corrugating grooves therein spaced apart and parallell and at right angles to the periphery of the cylinder and the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, an embossing tool operatively mounted for engage ment with the walls of a cylinder on said mandrel, said tool Ihaving corrugating teeth spirally arranged thereon and adapted to press the wally arranged thereon and adapted to press the wall of the cylinder in said grooves, and means for rotating said mandrel and said tool in opposite directions.

15. An apparatus for corrugating cylindersI comprising a mandrel adapted to receive a cylinder thereover, said mandrl having corrugating grooves therein spaced apart and parallel and at right angles to the periphery of the cylinder 10 and the longitudinal axis of the mandrel, an embossing tool operatively mounted for engagement with the walls of a cylinder on said mandrel, said tool having corrugating teeth spirally arranged thereon and adapted to press the wall of the cylinder in saidv grooves, means for rotating said mandrel and said tool in opposite directions, and means for moving said tool longitudinally of said mandrel during the corrugatin-g operation.

ALBERT G. WERY. LESLIE A. PEPPLER.. 

